I received my white Crowntail betta today. He's beautiful and alive. I did the plop and drop method. He appeared very cramped and stressed out in his little bag, so I wanted to get him to the new water ASAP. I opened it, added a drop of prime, and let him loose. In the bag he was swimming funny, and when I put him in the tank it seemed like he was able to swim much better but not as well as I'd like. Last night I put a bit of aquarium salt in his new tank, an extra drop of prime and a small water change. Is there anything else I can do to calm him down, and is this normal after the shipping process? Thank you.

There's really no need for the aq salt, that will just stress him out more. Instead, turn off his tank light and drape a towel/blanket over the tank and let him sit for the night and he'll be much happier in the morning Darkness calms fish.

There's really no need for the aq salt, that will just stress him out more. Instead, turn off his tank light and drape a towel/blanket over the tank and let him sit for the night and he'll be much happier in the morning Darkness calms fish.

Oh it was only a few pieces just as a precaution. I thought aquarium salt helped them calm down, good to find out now that it's not the case. He's laying on the bottom or resting at the top a lot. It's stressing ME out now. The tank light is off, I just need to find something to put over the tank. Does this usually happen when they are shipped? Oi his stress is contagious.

yeah, any time you add things to the water that aren't natural for them (tannins are natural and would help with him) like salt, it stresses them out.

And yes, it's very normal for them to be super stressed the first few day's they're home, they just spent a few day's being jostled around in a tiny bag, you'd be pretty shaken up too lol. He'll be fine, just get a towel or blanket to put over it and leave him be for a while. You can check on him around dinner time but for the most part, just let him be while he adjusts.